Page 20 of Death Trap

He smiled. “It’s amazing what things carry over and what do not.”

For the first time since we entered the trailer, Eli took a good look around, his pleasantness immediately turning into disgust. Sure, the trailer wasn’t anything spectacular, but it was perfect for Sean and Wyatt, and that was just fine with me.

“What is it?” I asked. A fierce wave of protectiveness came over me. I didn’t like anyone judging my friends. “You look like you’ve just smelled rotting seafood.”

Eli turned, seeming surprised I had caught him. “I’m not used to…” He paused, considering his next word. “Earth.”

What was he? An alien or something?

“Well, these are good people. They’ve helped me a lot.”

“I know.”

“So, what if they’re a little disorganized?” I continued, a bit flustered.

“You care for these humans. I can respect that.”

“Yeah? Well, good. You should.” Wasn’t quite sure where I was going with that one, but I didn’t expect him to agree with me. Kind of snuffed out my fire.

“You’ve always had strong compassion for the living,” he said. “It’s who you are.”

Okay, he was really starting to annoy me with these ambiguous comments. It didn’t sit well with me that he knew more about me than I did. It wasn’t right.

Eli must have sensed the change in me because his tone became gentler. Less detached. “Jade, are you ready to get your answers?”

I paused. Had I ever told him my name? I guess that went back to him knowing me somehow. If only I could remember him.

“Are you ready?”

Was this guy for real? Was he really about to tell me who I was and what all this chaos in my life was really about? Was it going to be that easy?

If so, I was more than ready. Super ready. Super-duper ready.

Without my control, excitement filled me to the brim, and I rose onto my tiptoes. Was this handsome stranger going to give me what I’d been waiting so long to know?

“Ask me anything you want, and I will explain it to you,” Eli said. “Go ahead.”

Okay. I could do that. Simple.

But where to start?

With all my questions swirling around in my head, my gaze fell upon the symbol on the right side of Eli’s chest, and I knew exactly which one I wanted to ask first.

“The tattoo you have there,” I said, pointing at it. “What does it mean? Why do I have one? Does mine mean the same thing?”

He held up a hand. “One at a time.”

“Sorry,” I mumbled and rubbed my lips together, more questions hovering on my tongue. My eagerness got the better of me. But could anyone blame me? I forced myself to draw in a deep breath to calm my excitement. Maybe I should ask Simon for some meditation tips. I could foresee it coming in handy.

“I know the one I have is called an angel mark,” I tried again, but my words still came out a bit too fast. “I found that out.”

From the original sin demon, Greed, but it was best to leave that part out.

“That’s right,” he replied.

“I was told angels branded me or something?”

His expression never changed. It was the same blank slate as before. “Correct.”

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